Menu

Libraries Are For Everyone

One of the bestest-best things that has happened as a result of having this blog is that I get to connect with librarians from all over the world. It’s just flat-out awesome. And sometimes those connections lead to a collaboration like what just recently happened with Julie Syler and Ashley Jones from the Saline County Library in Benton, Arkansas. They were preparing for National Library Legislative Day, and wanted to use my images. One thing led to another and we ended up making some pretty sharp-looking images for the occasion. (coughHUMBLEBRAGcoughcough)

Because we all love to share, we decided to post our creations here for anyone/everyone to use!

Without further ado – click on, download, and use any or all of the following images:

There you have it: something that I would not have done if someone hadn’t reached out to me! (hint-hint eyebrow wiggle)

I’d love to know if you or your library end up using any or all of these signs either in the comments here, or by emailing me at hafuboti@gmail.com. Otherwise, I just plan on making high-pitched EEP! noises if/when I come across one of these in the wild (like as a profile pic or some such thing).

A NOTE: I am slowly working on getting my artwork uploaded onto the Wikimedia Commons for people to find it easier all the while making all of it “officially” licensed. That said – my entire blog here is under a Creative Commons Attribute/Share Alike license – so know that I both want and encourage everyone to download, share, modify, and have fun with my work!

I also want to reiterate what I’ve stated in the past since I can’t make it an exception within the license: I do not want my name (given or business) on my minimalist art. It sort of ruins the clean lines and elegance. Just don’t tell people that you’re the creator – I’m fine with you crediting it to “an awesome Punk Rock Book Jockey blogger” if you can’t recall either of my names. Or write by Hafuboti on the back in pencil if you’re worried about it. Seriously. Have fun.

I plan on putting this note on the bottom of all of my Libraries Are For Everyone posts so if you’ve read the above paragraph once, then you won’t need to again (unless you really want to).

Do you have pins available for the “Libraries are for everyone” buttons in different languages?
I would love to wear one in German, as it is my other fluent language. Wearing in one in a language I speak would be a great way to connect with other speakers of my language at my library.
Thank you,
Annelise

I could put a German option up in my Zazzle shop if you’d like – I’d need a few days since things have been hectic at work. Please let me know if that’s not what you meant! Otherwise, I will send you an email when it’s posted.

Hi there, thank you so much for your service in providing the “Libraries for everyone” in other languages, we are using them for our Multi language collection and there are some languages that I would like to request if possible? Burmese, Macedonia and Tagalog. This would complete our language centre display. Thanks in advance, Briany

Hi Briany! If you search Filipino on my blog, you should be set for Tagalog. In terms of the other two – I’ll need you to send me those translations and how to break them up (from a native speaker and not google translate). If you do that, then I’ll happily make the signs!

I am absolutely thrilled that you’re using my designs and hope that it touches your community.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these!!!! I thought you had a Bosnian one before, but can’t find it now. Also, if anyone out there speaks Ukrainian or Swahili, I would love to have those, as we have students who speak those languages! If I can get a parent to write it out, I’ll let you know!

Hiya, Robin! I am so thrilled that you love them. In good news, I *do* have a Swahili set of signs – just search “Swahili” and you should be good to go. And I double-checked since I can’t remember all of the languages I’ve included, and can confirm that I didn’t do Bosnian (yet). Get me that and/or the Ukrainian and I’ll get ’em made and posted!

Thanks for these great signs! I’ve shared them with the African Library Project partners so you may get some new translations! Just a suggestion, it would be great to have the list of languages in this post in alphabetical order to make it easy to check for particular languages. Also, Swahili seems to be missing from this list even though you do have it on the site. Thanks again, Deborah

Hi, Deborah! It took me way longer to get this page updated (WordPress didn’t make it super-easy to cut/paste the languages in order). But it is *finally* updated and it is so much more user-friendly. Thanks again for reaching out and sharing your thoughts with me!

Hello,
I found your fabulous your fabulous designs on Pinterest when I searched for “school library displays on diversity”. I’ve cultivated a list of books in my library’s fiction collection that cover diverse cultures, physical attributes, disabilities, mental health issues, family situations, (e.g. foster homes,), sexual orientation, etc. These posters will be perfect to display along with the books. Thank you so much for sharing!

I was made aware of all your signs through a library directors listserv. The timing couldn’t have been better! We recently got a grant for a lot of books on other religions, cultures, and countries. I’ll be using several of your inclusion/diversity signs for the display of the new books.

I love the inclusiveness. I read 2 to 3 books a day because being disabled gives lots of time. I get tired of tv and even the internet, but I never tire of reading. I like to go back to old friends and reread I always find something I missed and new books I can’t read fast enough. To me reading is life.